Massachusetts Department of Higher Education

Massachusetts public higher education is a system with a
distinguished past, increasing and measurable accomplishments, and
dedicated to being recognized as having one of the nation's most
outstanding array of institutions. It comprises 15 community
colleges, nine state colleges, and five campuses of the University
of Massachusetts. The system exists to provide accessible,
affordable, relevant, and rigorous programs that adapt to meet
changing individual and societal needs for education and employment.
The public system is committed to continuous improvement and
accountability in all aspects of teaching and learning. The
Department of Higher Education, together with each respective Board
of Trustees, expects all students, faculty, and staff to be held to
exacting standards in the performance of their roles and
responsibilities.

The mission of the Department of Higher Education is to ensure
that Massachusetts residents have the opportunity to benefit from a
higher education that enriches their lives and advances their
contributions to the civic life, economic development, and social
progress of the Commonwealth. To that end, the programs and services
of Massachusetts higher education must meet standards of quality
commensurate with the benefits it promises and must be truly
accessible to the people of the Commonwealth in all their diversity.